
aass__LA2^il 
Book .JsWl 



n;^ 



W 



%j 



■h" 




ADDRESS 



DEUVEREO IN 



^(A- 



Cjirist Cljurrlj, 



FUNERAL OF JOSEPH W. INGRAHAM. 





ADDRESS 



►It 

DELIVERED IN 



Cjirfet Cjnirrli, 



FUNERAL OF JOSEPH W. INGRAHAM 



TOGETHER WITH THE PROCEEDINGS OP THE 



PRIMAEY SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 



RELATION TO' HIS" DEATH.' ';'? T.' 



^7^ < 



BOSTON: 

1848. 

J. H. EASTBURN CITY PRINTER, 






ii^i EXCHANG* 

N. E.Hist. denl. 3oc. 




., »•: 



PROCEEDINGS 



MEETING OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE. 



At a meeting of the Primary School Committee, held Sept. 5, 
1848, the death of. the late,-Jpf eph- W-. Ingbaham was formally- 
announced in a few brief remarks by the Eev. Mr. Wo art, who 
moved that a Committee of five be appointed to draft resolutions 
expressive of the sense of the Board, at the recent death of their 
associate. 

The Chair appointed as such Committee, Messrs. Woart, Sum- 
ner, Bumstead, Brown and Sampson, who retired and shortly re- 
turned, and reported the following resolutions, wliich were unani- 
mously adopted : 

Resolved, This Board have heard with feelings of deep regret 
the announcement of the death of their late associate, Joseph W. 
Ingraham, who was its senior member, Chairman of the Execu- 
tive Committee, and also Chairman of the Committee on School 
Houses. 

Resolved, That the lively interest always manifested by Mr. 
Ingraham for the prosperity of our Schools, his constant, un- 
wearied and successful exertions to promote their welfare, and 
elevate their character, with no remuneration for his arduous 
labors, save the satisfaction of witnessing their happy results, com- 
mend him not only to the highest regards of this Board, but to the 
grateful remembrance of our community, and to all the friends of 
education. 

Resolved, That in rendering this token of respect to our depart- 
ed associate, we feel it to be but a feeble tribute for the services 
of one whose unremitting devotion to the cause of education so 
absorbed his mind, that he may be regarded almost as a martyr to 
the advancement of its interests. 

Resolved, That the above resolutions be transmitted to the rela- 
tives of the deceased, with whom we deeply sympathize in this 
their afflicting dispensation. 
Attest. 

EBEN JONES, President. 

ALVAN SIMONDS, Secretary. 



At a special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Pri- 
mary School Board, held August 29th, 1848, in consequence of 
the death of their Chairman, the following resolutions were unani- 
mously adopted : 

Resolved, That the Executive Committee have learned, with 
heai'tfelt sorrow, the sudden decease of their esteemed Chairman, 
Joseph W. Ingraham, in which event they have to deplore the 
loss of a valuable and indefatigable memljer of their Committee, and 
the senior member of the Primary School Board. 

Resolved, That his ardent devotion to the cause of popular edu- 
cation, his faithful discharge of the laborious duties of Chaix'mau 
of this Committee for many years, his unwearied and gratuitous 
exertions for the best interests of the Primary Schools of this City, 
entitle him to the grateful remembrance of this community, and 
of the friends of education generally. 

Resolved, That the Executive Committee will attend the funeral 
of the deceased at Christ Church, on Thursday next, at four 
o'clock, P. M., and they do hereby invite the members of the 
Primary and Grammar School Committees to unite with them 
in this expression of their respect for the memory of their late 
friend and Chairman. 

Resolved, As a testimony of respect for the many virtues of the 
deceased, the Committee recommend that the several Primary 
Schools throughout the city be suspended on Thursday afternoon 
next, that both teachers and children may pay the last sad tribute 
to departed worth. 

Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be transmitted 
by the Secretary to the relatives of the deceased, with whom this 
Committee deeply sympathize in their sudden bereavement. 

F. A. SUMNER, Chairman pro tern. 

ALVAN SIMONDS, Secretary/. 



CITY OF BOSTON. 



In Primary School Committee, \ 
Sept. 5, 1845. \ 



Voted, That Messrs. J. V. C. Smith, T. R. Marvin, and W. 
D. Ticknor, be a Committee to wait upon the Rev. Mr. "Woart, and 
solicit for publication, a copy of his just and appropriate observa- 
tions on the character of the late Joseph Wentworth Ingraham, as 
delivered at his funeral. 

Voted, That the doings of this Board, and of the Executive 
Committee, in relation to Mr. Ingraham's decease, be printed for 
the use of the Board, in connection with Mr. Woart's address, un- 
der the direction of the same Committee. 
Attest : 

ALVAN SIMONDS, Secretary. 



The following note contains too high a tribute to be withheld by 
the Committee from publication. 

Rev. John Woaet, 
Dear Sir: — 
I HAVE just returned from the city, after attending the funeral 
services of my friend, Mr. Ingraham, and I am really moved too 
strongly to allow me to resist the impulse, to ask you to publish, 
in some form, your remarks upon the character and services of 
the deceased. In addition to the substantial merit of justness, 
they certainly had the rare beauty of a perfect adaptation. Be- 
sides, it will be consolatory to many, and it may be impulsive and 
perhaps creative to some, to recount the merits of one who had 
neither wealth, nor patronage, nor power, and yet has made every 
body acknowledge his usefulness, and mourn at his departure. 

Very sincerely, 

Yours, «&c., &c. 

HORACE MANN. 
West Newton, Aug. 31, 1848. 



The Funeral of Mr. Ingraham, took place at Christ Church, 
on Thursday afternoon, August 31. Every part of the house was 
crowded with the friends of the deceased, among whom were the 
members of the School Committee, the Primary School Teachers, 
a number of the Officers of the City, distinguished friends of Edu- 
cation, and quite a number of children. The body was met at the 
Church door, and conducted up the aisle by the Rev. Drs. Cros- 
"WELL and Eaton, and the Rev. Mr, "Woart. The selections from 
the Psalter were chanted by the choir, and the Rev. Mr. Woart read 
the lesson. Almost the entire congregation followed in procession 
to the burial ground on Copps Hill, where the exercises were con- 
cluded by the Rev. Drs. Eaton and Cro swell. 



" Do sometliing — do it soon — with all thy might : 
An angel's wing would droop, if long at rest j 
And God, inactive, were no longer blest. 

Some high or humble enterprise of good. 
Contemplate till it shall possess thy mind. 

Become thy study, pastime, rest and food. 
And kindle in thy heart a flame refined. 
Pray Heaven for firmness thy whole soul to bind 

To this thy purpose — to begin, pursue. 
With thoughts all fixed, and feelings purely kind — 

Strength to complete, and with delight review. 

And strength to give the praise where all is due." 



ADDRESS. 



You observe, my friends, tkat there are three clergy- 
men present, in their official robes, partaking in the 
solemnities of this affecting occasion. All of us hold 
interesting relations to this church, and to him whose 
mortal remains are before us. My two brethren near 
me were successively Rectors of this parish, over which, 
in the providence of God, I am now placed. My 
senior reverend brother presented our deceased friend 
for confirmation, and was, for many years, his faithful 
Pastor. With my immediate predecessor our friend 
was similarly associated for nearly as long a time. 
During my own incumbency he has seemed to cherish 
towards us all the most affectionate parochial feelings, 
and I am sure it has been my desire, and I doubt not 
that of each of us, to reciprocate his kind interest and 
attentions. 

This occasion is one of peculiar solemnity from the 
suddenness of the event which has summoned us 
together. If in meeting our friend from time to time, 
in our ordinary walks and visits in different parts of 
the city, we had witnessed a change in his appearance. 



8 



a weakness in his system, and a general decline in his 
usual health, and found him consequently withdrawing 
gradually from his numerous active engagements ; if 
we had called to see him at his own house, and found 
him, day by day, increasing in feebleness, and the 
conviction had grown upon us that he was actually a 
dying man, every body would, of course, have been 
somewhat prepared for such a scene as this, and for 
the loss which this visitation of death has produced ; 
but when, the few of us to whom it was known, first 
heard that he was sick, we learned immediately, from 
the same source, that his life was hourly expected to 
terminate ; and most persons in this community heard 
of his death before they even knew that he had been 
at all indisposed. 

Our friend was not himself aware that he needed 
medical aid. On Thursday of last week, he called casu- 
ally at a physician's office,* when his appearance was a 
subject of remark, and he was earnestly advised to go 
immediately home, and receive the care and kindness 
which were ever in readiness for him when he required 
their exercise. To the entire surprise of this same 
physician, our friend was again in his office the next 
day, having gone out against the wishes Of his own 
family, who saw that it was necessary for him to have 
rest. He was then spoken to more decidedly than 
before. He gave as a reason for being out, that his 
duties demanded it ; but he soon became convinced 

" J. V. C. Smith, M. D. 



9 



that he must comply at once with the desire and 
directions which were then urged upon him. 

On Saturday evening he Avas too much exhaUstedj 
after attending to some needful matters connected with 
his numerous important avocations, and from the 
weakening effects of disease, to admit of my seeing 
him. On Sunday evening he looked up as I seated 
myself at his side, but was unable to distinguish me, 
or indeed any one else j he was aware of my being 
with him only by his familiarity with my voice. When 
I asked him if he knew the day of the week, he seem- 
ed to revive, and assuming a look and manner of the 
most devout seriousness, replied, "It is God's holy 
day." The Rev. Dr. Croswell, who was present, and 
who had previously visited and conversed with him, 
kneeled at the bed-side and prayed. God, Ave trust, 
heard and accepted the devotions in Avhich, I fear, our 
friend could not connectedly engage. It Avas plainly 
evident that his days Avere numbered. Thus he rapidly 
declined, until Monday, betAveen the hours of six 
and seven in the evening, Avhen his spirit took its 
flight, and this familiar form Avas left inanimate, — to 
become cold, and gradually moulder aAvay in the re- 
lentless embrace of death. 

Mr. Ingraham Avas born in Boston on the 13th of 
]S[oA^ember,in the year 1799. The influences by AA^hich 
he Avas surrounded in childhood Avere calculated to 
form his character in agreement Avith the purest 
standards of morality, and A^ery early in life he took 
upon himself the voavs and promises AA'hich AA^ere made 



10 



in his name at liis baptism, and became a communi- 
cant in the parish of Christ Church * He was a man 
of strong domestic attachments ; and his love for his 
mother, his faithful regard for her wants, and his 
pleasant accommodation of himself to her wishes, andl 
to the promotion of her happiness, not only served to 
prolong her days on earth, and greatly add to the 
peace of her departure, but it called forth the admira- 
tion of every observer. If there were persons disposed 
at that period to speak of things connected with Mr. 
Ingraham which happened not to be in entire agree- 
ment with their peculiar taste or liking, their hearts 
prompted them immediately to remark upon this ex- 
emplary characteristic in his domestic life, as one cal- 
culated to hide from censure very many more faults 
than could be numbered during the entire portion of 
his youthful days. I desire most earnestly that this 
should be particularly noticed, and most carefully 
borne in mind ; and if there are any little children 
present, who knew Mr. Ingraham, and desire to re- 
member him, I trust they will never fail to think of 
this striking excellence in his character, whilst they 
diligently seek to imitate it themselves, and affection- 
ately commend it to the regard of others. 

The occupation to which our friend was trained, 
was that of printing, after he had passed through one 
of our Grammar Schools, and received, as a testimonial 



* Mr. I. was baptized at Clirist Church, by the Rev. Dr. Walter, February 
2cl, 1800, and confirmed at Christ Church by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Griswold. 
Nov. 17, 1816 



11 



of his good scliolarsbip, one of the Franklin medals. I 
would here remark, that during his connection with sev- 
eral different printing offices in Boston, he sought, as far 
as he possibly could, not to aid in sending forth from 
the press any publications, the tendency of which 
would be injurious to the good morals of the communi- 
ty; and when he was so situated as to exercise a con- 
irol over the matter himself, his name was always 
found attached to such works, and to such only, as 
were suited to extend morality, and to inculcarte the 
•truest sentiments of religion. The first strictly devo- 
tional book which I ever called my own, presented to 
me in my childhood by my beloved pastor,* a book 
in which I first learned the right meaning of the word 
■ejaculatory, and in which prayers of tliat kind, and 
others suited to ray age, were arranged, bore the name 
.-of our friend upon its title-page. How regardless too 
many are of such principles as these ! How worthy 
such conduct is of imitation ! I consider it my solemn 
duty to say, that I am utterly unable to see the differ- 
ence between spreading abroad in society, books and 
pamphlets and newspapers, of a decidedly evil, or even 
questionable character, and the receiving and treasur- 
ing up of the price of admission, at the gateway of a 
place of iniquity. 

When quite young in years, Mr. Ingraham manifest- 
ed a strong interest in Sunday Schools, and he soon 
became extensively known as a most devoted and zeal- 
ous Superintendent in the Salem Street Sunda}^ School, 

* The Rev. James Morss, D. D. of St. Paul's Churdi,, Newburyport. 



12 



wMcli was the first institution of the kind established 
in the United States.* This School embraced children 
from almost every different persuasion, numbering from 
three to five hundred, though it was connected with 
Christ Church. His annual reports were spread far and 
wide, and considered as valuable productions, and he 
was written to and referred to from every direction for 
advice and aid in the commencement of efforts of a 
similar kind.f 

In endeavoring to improve himself and impart in- 
struction, the idea occurred to him of preparing a cor- 
rect map of Palestine, together with a book upon the 
subject, explanatory and historical. Upon this work 
he spent much time and labor, the results of which but 
few persons could fully estimate. The opinion, how- 
ever, of the Rev. Dr. Stuart, of the Theological Semi- 
nary at Andover, was as gratifying as it was just and 

* This School was opened in 18] 5. 

+ *' It is not hazarding too much to say that there are no institutions more 
important, whether we regard them in a religious or political point of view. 
Our country has been pre-eminently distinguished for liberality in regard 
to education ; our Schools are numerous, liberally supported, and well at- 
tended. But in these schools, religious instruction is not attended to; and 
many of the children have no means of being instructed in their duty to 
tiieir fellow creatures and their God, but through the medium of Sunday 
Schools. Are not these schools, then, of vast importance? If on the vir- 
tue and intelligence of our citizens depend, under God, the freedom and in- 
dependence of our country : if in proportion as they are well instructed in 
their duty to God and their neighbor, will be our national prosperity and 
happiness, then every means which will tend to make them wiser and bet- 
ter, and improve their minds and hearts, should be regarded as of the highest 
importance. And what institutions will so effectuall)' promote these great 
and desirable ends, as those which are established solely for religious and 
moral instruction, — institutions which present the most formidable barrier 
against vice and immorality? Who that professes to be a patriot, a philan. 
thropist, or a cliristian, will not be zealous to promote their interests, and 
extend their influence?" — Mr. I.'s Annual Iifport,1S26. 



i: 



generous. Professor Stuart remarked, that he con- 
sidered Mr. Ingraham the best BibUcai Geographer m the 
country. 

In the pursuit of knowledge, and with a desire to 
do good, Mr. Ingraham travelled at this period in 
several different parts of the country. He lectured 
upon Palestine, and also, after having visited Niagara, 
gave a course of lectures upon that mighty fall of 
waters, in connection with a set of beautiful illustra- 
tions, which were prepared under his own accurate 
supervision. During this time he wrote a series of 
letters to the members of his Sunday school — the 
charge of which had been temporarily delegated to 
others. These letters were subsequently gathered 
into a volume and published by the Protestant Epis- 
copal Tract Society, in the city of New York. 

Some of the friends of Mr. Ingraham expressed sur- 
prise at his willingness to sacrij&ce the competency 
which he might easily acquire, and the distinction to 
which he could attain, by a regular attention to the 
business in which he had been reared, and in which 
he excelled ;* but it was on his own account alone, 
in a temporal point of view, not because they did not 
value his varied labors, and desire him to continue them. 
It was even at that time evident that he was quite 
regardless of the worldly gain which men generally 
consider important to be kept in view. 

* Few persons equalled Mr. I. in the correctness of his taste and judgment 
in preparing books for publication, and as a corrector of the press, and also 
a judge of printing, and printing materials. See proceedings of the several 
exhibitions of the M. C. M. A. 



14 



From the time of his devoting his mind so zealously 
to Biblical pursuits, our departed friend cherished an 
ardent desire to visit the land where the Redeemer of 
the world was born, and to walk about among the 
places where Christ had been, and in which he had 
taught the people, and performed his many wonderful 
acts of mercy and of love. But these expectations 
were never realized. Yet may we not believe, in ardent 
faith, that the departed will be blessed in the holy 
delight of walking with the Saviour through the gold- 
en streets of the Heavenly Jerusalem ! 

Memorials of our friend's love for the Scriptures, 
and of his lively interest in religious education, may 
be found scattered far and wide in the books which 
were presented by him to different persons, and 
especially to children, with whom he was in various 
ways associated. I met yesterday with a young lady 
who was about returning to her home in a distant 
city, at the conclusion of a visit in this neighborhood, 
with her parents, who spoke, with grateful recollec- 
tion, of such a gift, presented to her when a little girl, 
and containing the autograph of the giver. And I 
see, standing in the aisle before me, a member of my 
own congregation, whose birth-place was in a town in 
England, in which a Sunday School was established at 
about the same date of the one of which I have spoken 
as commenced in the parish of Christ Church, in this 
city, who recently told me that when, a few years 
since, he was about to visit his native place, he one 
day met Mr. Ingraham in the street, and conversed 



15 



with him upon the subject of Sunday Schools, and re- 
ceived from him a number of religious books and tracts, 
accompanied by the remark, "If I were to be absent 
from Boston as long as you have been from your na- 
tive town, I should expect to find, upon my return, 
many parents and children to whom I should like to 
give some instructive book, as a token of my interest 
in them as Christian people." These were publi- 
cations which he had himself issued from the press ; 
and one of them, a serious address to parents upon 
the subject of their responsibilities to the young, was 
from his own pen ; and all of them Avere thankfully 
received abroad, and were known to be exceedingly 
valued and useful. 

In the year 1821, Mr. Ingraham became connected 
with the Primary Schools of this city. Here a wide field 
of usefulness was opened before him. He gradually 
increased his interest and efforts in their behalf, until 
he became decidedly the most zealous and efficient 
member upon the Committee. This is not a simple 
statement of my own, founded upon my individual 
knowledge of Mr. Ingraham in this relation, but it is 
the universal opinion of his associates, an opinion 
which they express, with a depth and reality of feel- 
ing, not common to witness in any community, in re- 
lation to any man, whatever may have been his ser- 
vices. He was regular in his attendance upon the 
meetings of the Board, and always punctual; and as to 
his labors, they were of a character and amount scarce- 
ly to be credited by persons who were not familiar 



16 



with them ; and especially were all surprised wlien it 
was known that his services were entirely gratuitous. 

In the early establishment of our Primary Schools, 
the buildings in which they were taught were mostly 
very ordinary in their appearance, as well as in their 
internal arrangements and conveniences. This was a 
subject to which Mr. Ingraham devoted extraordinary 
attention ; and I would point, with much pride, to the 
new school house, erected during the past year, in 
Sheafe street, near this church, under his own imme- 
diate direction, as a building, as far in advance of any 
which were originally used for such purposes, as the 
comfortable dwelling of an independent gentleman is 
superior to the most ordinary human habitation. I 
shall ever look upon it as a monument to our perse- 
vering and worthy friend : and one much more likely 
to attract the notice of the beholder, and cause him to 
cherish a favorable recollection of him whom it com- 
memorates, than is the case with many an expensive 
structure of marble or granite, presenting its imposing 
form before us in some magnificent cemetery, arranged 
and beautified by an expenditure of thousands.* 

This was the first school house erected for Primary 
School instruction in this city, which was set apart for 

* At a meeting of llie Primaiy School Committee held on Tuesday SA^e-- 
ning, Sept 12, 184S, it was 

Voted, That the Primary School House lately erected on Sheafe street, 
after a plan furnished by the late Joseph W. Ingraham, be hereafter known 
as the Ingraham Primary School, 

Also Voted, That a Committee of five be now appointed by the Chair, 
to communicate the aforesaid vote to the City Council, requesting their 
concurrence, and that they affix the said name to said School House in the 
'jsual manner. 



17 



its appropriate uses by a formal dedicatory service. 
Such a service was conducted in that building, under 
the direction of Mr. Ingraham, and there were gentle- 
men of high position and influence present on the occa- 
sion, and among them the Secretary of the Board of 
Education, who was induced for that purpose to defer 
what some might consider more important engage- 
ments.^ 

Mr. Ingraham exerted himself in similar ways to 
give increased dignity and importance to every thing 
connected with the instruction of little children in 
our Public Schools. He never failed to be present 
at the Semi-annual meetings of all the Teachers, at 
which time a report was read of the state of the 
different schools, and it was his endeavor to procure 
the attendance of some one or more gentlemen of ex- 
perience and education to make instructive and en- 
couraging addresses to the teachers. 

It was also a point of great importance with Mr. 
Ingraham to secure teachers of the best qualifications 
in every respect, for the office which they were to 
fiU. He did much to make the committee of every 
district feel the importance of this matter, and he 
had the satisfaction of knowing, a year before he 
died, that the teachers in our Primary Schools were 



* The Executive Committee requested Mr. Ingraham to prepare the ad- 
dress, which he delivered at that time, giving an account of the progress of 
the Primary School System in Boston, for the press, together with sketches 
of the other addresses on the occasion, and a plan of the whole building, 
which is fitted for three separate schools. It is hoped that this account of 
.the dedication and building may yet appear. 
3 



18 



most of them equally well qualified to instruct with 
the female teachers in the Grammar Schools, and 
that — chiefly through his own personal efforts — the 
salaries of the former were made equal to those of the 
latter.* 

Well may the Committee and the Teachers regret, 
as they do most sincerely, the death of such a man. 
I have met with none whose voice has not trembled 
as they mentioned his name, or whose eyes were 
tearless as they thought of the greatness of their 
loss. 

Hereafter, my friends, as we, or they who may suc- 
ceed us, witness the happy results of the unwearied 
labors of which I have spoken, in the distinction and 
usefulness of those who are at present, or who may 
yet be, instructed in these schools, I trust that, in 
connection with whatever they may accomplish, 
which will be for their own honor, and for the good of 
mankind, no one will fail most gratefully and affec- 
tionately to remember the name of Joseph Wentworth 
Ingraham. 

As I go back to the early period of Mr. Ingraham's 
life, when he first began, as it were, to forget himself 
and worldly gain in his increasing interest in the 
sacred cause of education ; when he looked upon 
society and considered its interests ; when he saw how 
much there was to be done, and how few really 
zealous, laborious men there were to do it, I imagine 

* See Mr. I's interesting letter to the City Government upon this subject. 



19 



I read his thongMs : " I cannot wait for the acquire 
ment of wealth, to use myself, or to place in the hands 
of others to do good. I must act at once ;" and then 
I hear him say : " Silver and gold have I none, but 
such as I have give I thee ; I will devote my time and 
my talents, as I may have the ability and the oppor- 
tunity, to the promotion of the best interests of my 
fellow men, seeking all the while, my own personal 
improvement, that I may be better qualified to serve 
my God in the great object which I have in view." 

I ought not to omit here the statement that Mr. 
Ingraham was intrusted by the publishers, with the 
general supervision of " the School Library, a work 
issued under the sanction of the Board of Education of 
the State of Massachusetts." In the discharge of this 
duty we find him expending time, for which he could 
hardly expect an adequate remuneration, in arranging 
for each book a full and valuable index and glossary. 
Every student knows how to appreciate, in some de- 
gree, a labor of this kind ; and this class of persons will 
be ready to acknowledge that these additions to both 
series of the School Library, give, in a great degree, 
the value to the work which it is generally believed 
to possess. 

In the year 1844 a committee was appointed at the 
triennial exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable 
Mechanic Association, as judges of School Apparatus. 
At that time the School Library, together with a 
Teachers' Record Book for Primary Schools, and 
small arm-chairs to take the place of the ordinary 



20 



benches then in use, were presented by Mr. Ingraham, 
That committee awarded a silver medal for the Libra- 
ry, and one also for the Record Book, and a diploma 
for the chairs, recommending also in their report that 
these chairs be introduced into all the Primary Schools * 

His various attainments, and increasing efforts to 
promote education, attracted the notice of literary men, 
and a few years since the faculty of Columbia College 
in the City of New York, conferred upon him the 
degree of Master of Arts. And very recently he was 
nominated by the Governor of this State, and unani- 
mously appointed by the Council, to be a member of 
the Board of Education, 

Our friend, the devoted, self-sacrificing friend of the 
public good, has been taken from us in the vigor of 
his days. " God's ways are not as our ways." We 
bow, we trust, resignedly to the dispensation. We now 
commit his body to the dust of the earth, while we 
commend his memory to all : very many will cherish 
it amongst the choicest recollections of their grateful 
hearts. 

We do not claim for this departed man an entire 
freedom from all imperfections of character and con- 
duct. Who among us is perfect ? Not one. Admit 
that he may have occasionally betrayed errors or in- 
discretions in his stirring, busy life — and my admis- 
sion of this will give far greater force to all that I 
have said in his praise — - 1 will yet claim for him the 

* These record books and ciiairs are now gener;il!y useil throughout ths 
city, ^ee Proceedings of M, C. M. A., page 146. 



21 



strictest moral rectitude, and a sincere and unc[uestion« 
ed desire to honor God. 

Were he able to speak at this moment he would 
say, " Think of me always as you hieiv me. If there 
was ever any thing unwise or objectionable about me 
in your estimation, let your conviction of it be for 
your profit, and with respect to whatever you were 
disposed to esteem as useful and commendable in the 
course I have pursued, may you be enabled to profit 
by that likewise ; and thus, as far as you are concerned, 
in relation to the influence my life may have over your 
character, I shall not have lived in vain."^ 

And now, my friends, I must refer to a far more 
important matter than any upon which I have yet 
spoken, the religious faith of the deceased. I am 
aware that I have before me a mixed assembly. There 
are people present who have come hither to manifest 

* There seems to be no more suitable place to preserve the following 
than in a note upon this page. 

In St. John's Lodge, Monday evening, Sept. 4, 1848, Wor. Bro. C. Gay- 
ton PicKMAN, announced the following, which was unanimously adopted. 

IVhereas, Since the last communication of this Lodge, it has pleased Al- 
mighty God to remove from this life our dear Brother Joseph Went worth 
In graham, 

Resolved, That in the death of Brother Ingraham we mourn the loss of 
one who, in every relation of life, as a Christian, as a Mason, brother, friend, 
and as devoted to the cause of education, was most faithful and true ; un- 
tiring in his industry, living for otliers rather than himself, unspotted in 
life, resigned in death. 

We pass this resolution in the humble and holy hope, that our brother 
has been called from the labor and darkness of earth to the rest and light 
of heaven. 

Ordered, That the Stewards put this Lodge in the customary mourning, 
and that the Secretary enter the above resolution on the records, and 
transmit an attested copy of the same to the family of Brother Ingraham. 
From the records, — Attest, 

Calvin Whiting, Secretary. 



22 



their respect for a departed friend, who represent al- 
most every different religious denomination,— but it 
must not be forgotten that we are gathered within a 
Church which is connected with a body of Christians 
to which the deceased was warmly devoted, and not 
only so, but to which he was bound by the exercise 
of principles of the strongest kind, and to which he 
adhered unwaveringly during every period of his life. 
This service is peculiarly ours, and you are here to 
witness its performance. You must, of course, have 
expected to hear what might be in agreement with 
our peculiar standards. 

Our departed brother was attached to the Protes- 
tant Episcopal Church, in her Ministry, Doctrines, 
Discipline and Worship, and would have been glad to 
have all others think and act with him in recommend- 
ing this Church, and in enjoying its high and holy 
privileges. He fully believed in the fall and degen- 
eracy of the whole human race, in consequence of the 
sin of our first parents, whereby generation after gen- 
eration of the children of Adam are born and live in 
sin. He believed in the deity of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. "God in Christ reconciling the world unto 
himself"* The offering of Christ once for all upon 
the cross as an atonement for sin, and the promised 
means of opening to penitent believers the gate of ev- 
erlasting life. He believed in the personality and di- 
vinity of the Holy Ghost, and acknowledged Him as 
the source of those moving influences within the heart 

* 2d Corinthians, 5 : 19. 



by which repentance and faith are exercised. He felt 
it to be his bounden duty to serve God in every good 
word and work — but he trusted not to his own strength 
for the right discharge of duty, but to Almighty Grace 
— and he relied entirely upon the Saviour for the ac- 
ceptance of all which he did, and for the final salvation 
of his immortal soul * 

We will not pretend to decide upon the obligation 
of this belief, to the severe and bigoted condemnation 
of any man. We merely add that we would that 
there were none who denied or doubted its truth. 
Kemember, we are all responsible to the great God 
above, to whom our dear friend has now gone to 
answer for the correctness of the faith which he pro- 
fessed. 

And as to the trueness and consistency of his 
Christian character, which was the superstructure rear- 
ed upon this foundation, I leave that also with the 
Sovereign Judge of quick and dead ; speaking forth 
to those around me the solemn word of exhortation : 
Seek to be wise, day by day, on earth, that you may 
gain heaven ; endeavoring to exercise that belief, and 
lead that kind of life, which will cause you to find your 
names written hereafter in the Lamb's Book of Life. 



*lt is worthy of particular notice that, notwithstanding Mr. Ingrahara's 
decided religious opinions, there never was any evident effort on his part 
to exert such an influence as it might be supposed he would wish to do, in 
the position which he held in the public schools. Most, if not all the 
teachers which were placed in the schools by his recommendation, have 
been persons holding opinions quite different from his own, and the same 
is true as to the gentlemen whom he has induced to serve upon the Com- 
mittee. 



LBAp'05 



24 



Tiie words with which I would now conclude shall 
be few. It is time for us to join in together, as 
brethren and friends, leading the way, and following 
on, in deep sympathy, with this company of mourning 
relatives, to the final resting-place of the dead. Life 
is short ; eternity endless ; the immortal soul inesti- 
mably precious. We are stewards of the Almighty. 
Shall we not resolve to be more faithful than ever, 
keeping actively in mind every instance within our 
knowledge of zealous devotion to God and man, and 
resolving to live more in accordance with the teach- 
ings of Holy Writ, by which we are required to love 
God with all the heart, and soul, and strength, 

AND mind, and to LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OUR- 
SELVES ! Amen. 



Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of those who 
depart hence in the Lord ; and with whom the souls of the faith- 
ful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in 
joy and felicity ; we give Thee hearty thanks for the good exam- 
ples of all those thy servants, who, having finished their course 
in faith, do now rest from their labors. And we beseech Thee, 
that we, with all those who are departed in the true faith of thy 
holy name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both 
in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



//? / I ^ 



